Ceiling panel support and edge closure assembly



June 15, 1955 R. E. SPANGENBERG 3,138,695

CEILING PANEL SUPPORT AND EDGE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Filed June 29, 1962 FIG.1

INVENTOR. Fobcr? fl 7 j 77b7 United States Patent 0 3,188,695 CEILING PANEL SUPPORT AND EDGE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Robbert Ernst Spangenberg, The Hague, Netherlands,

assignor to Hunter Douglas International (Quebec) Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of the Province of Quebec Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,511 Claims priority, applicatizoz Negherlands, June 30, 1961, 55

4 Claims. (Cl. 20-4 ing, wall or like surface is constructed, mostly the problem arises that the width or length of said ceiling or wall does not amount to a whole multiple of the width of the lining panels so that consequently at one edge or at two edges of the lining a panel must be mounted which has a width equal to only part of the width of an entire panel. Also the case may arise that only a relatively narrow gap remains between the last panel and a wall adjacent to the constructed lining of the ceiling or wall.

The invention aims at providing an edge profile equipment which is of simple construction and provides the possibility of rapidly finishing the edges of the lining for the ceiling or wall. For this purpose the edge profile arrangement comprises, according to the invention, an edge profile and a number of fastening members in which said edge profile is detachably mounted. This edge profile arrangement is not only suitable for supporting an edge of fiat panels but also of trough-like panels or of troughlike panels of which a longitudinal strip has been cut off. The edge profile may be detachably mounted in the fastening members in various ways. However, it is preferred to secure said edge profile to the fastening members in a clamping manner by means of springs. Consequently the edge profile maybe pressed in place in a simple and rapid way when already supporting a panel or panel portion.

The edge profile itself may, in a manner known per se, have in cross-section substantially the shape of an inverted L of which the horizontal leg supports a panel. According to the invention this edge profile preferably has a recessed portion serving to hold a strip of elastically deformable material which is provided between the edge profile and a wall adjacent to said edge profile in order tofill up the gap between said edge profile and said wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the edge profile for an edge profile arrangement according to the invention the upper portion of the upright leg of the edge profile may be bent and the lower portion of said bent portion may be bent once more until the edge of the second bent portion is located at a small distance from the upright leg of the edge profile. As a consequence thereof one obtains a somewhat resilient edge profile portion which may assist in firmly securing the edge profile in the fastening members.

The fastening members for the edge profile arrangement may be substantially L-shaped, one of the legs serving for the connection to a support and the other leg extending downwards, the latter leg comprising a resilient element, there being provided between said latter leg which extends in a downward direction and the resilient element a space for receiving part of the upright portion of the edge profile. The resilient element may consist of wire of which the end is bent away from the leg of the fastening member extending in a downward direction. The lower por- ICC tion of the leg extending in a downward direction is preferably bent into a slanting position. This produces a guiding surface along which the upper rim of the edge profile slides when being brought into position.

In order to render the edge profile arrangement also suitable for application to ceilings and Walls which are not accurately rectangular or square, the fastening members may consist of at least two parts which are pivotally interconnected. Consequently these parts may form any desired angle relative to each other. Said parts may be pivotally connected by a rivet which also serves as a fastening member for the resilient element of the fastening member. Consequently said resilient element pivots along with the relative part of the fastening member so that it always maintains the same position relative to the pivoting part. Consequently this always ensures a satisfactory clamping action of the fastening member.

In the case of a lining of a ceiling, wall or like surface, which lining consists of panels supported by holding members which by means of fastening means are secured to carrier members and which ceiling is provided with an edge profile arrangement according to the invention, it is preferred to secure the fastening members of the edge profile arrangement likewise to said carrier members, whilst the spaces between the edge profile and the adjacent walls are filled up with a strip of elastically deformable material.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing by way of example an embodiment of the edge profile arrangement according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a ceiling lining, in which a fastening element is shown in side view.

FIG. 2 shows a fastening element in perspective.

In the drawings there is shown one of a plurality of carrier members 1 which, in any manner known per se and not shown in the drawings, are secured to the bottom side of beams of a floor. To these carrier members 1 there are fastened profiled holding members 2 with the aid of fastening means 3 at a distance from each other equal to the width of panels 4 supported by the longitudinal edges of said holding members 2. On these panels 4, which are provided with a great many small apertures or slots, there is disposed a strip 5 of porous paper or some other material shown in dotted lines whilst on said strip 5 a sound absorbing filler 6 is arranged. The holding members 2 aand the fastening means 3 are preferably so constructed that the bottom planes of the holding members are located substantially in the bottom plane of the panels 4.

As is apparent from FIG. 1 the panel 4 situated close to a wall 7 is supported with its right hand longitudinal edge by a profiled edge profile 8 extending along the entire longitudinal edge of the panel 4. The edge profile 8 is secured in a clamping manner to a number of fastening members consisting of two parts 9 and 10. The parts 9 of these fastening members consist of a U-shaped bent strip of which one leg is much longer than the other leg. This longer leg comprises a longitudinal slot 11 through which there is passed a bolt 12 provided in a hole in the carrier member 1, said bolt being adapted to secure by means of a nut 13 the fastening member 9, 10 fixedly to the carrier member 1. By means of this longitudinal slot 11 it is possible to adjust the fastening member 9, 10 in the correct way relative to the wall 7.

Part 9 is connected by means of a rivet 14 to part 10 in such manner as to allow said part 10 to pivot relative to part 9. Consequently it is possible to use fastening members for linings or surfaces which are not of accurately rectangular or square shape.

The rivet 14 also serves to mount a curved spring 15 which may consist of wire. If desired, one may also use a leaf spring. As is apparent from the drawings thefspring I 15 is so bent that between. said spring and part of the fastening member 9, 10 aspace is formed for receiving the.

upper rim of the edge profile 8; In order to enable the springs to hold the edge profile 8 firmly the upper por 7 tion 16 of said edge profile is bent; The bent upper portion 16 has a bent end edge 17 extending parallel to part of the springs 15 so that Consequently a satisfactory clamping of the edge profile 8 is ensured.

Inorder'to provide the possibility of easily mounting the edge profile 8 in its place, the lower portion 18 of part 10 of the fastening member 9, 10 is bent downwards into a slanting position. The lower portion 19 of spring 15 is mounted to project farther orless members according to requirement. I claim: V L'For use in a wall, ceiling or covering construction far from the. carrier comprising panels carried by carrier members, a securing arrangementcomprising a substantially L-shaped fastening 'mernber and an elongated support strip'which is substantially L-shaped in cross-section, said fastening member having a horizontal leg portion and a vertical leg portion pointing downwards, a curved spring extending. substantially normal to the vertical planarface'of the vertical leg also bent into a slanting position but in a sense opposite to that of portion 18. In this way there is formed a portion for the insertion of the edge profile. On account'of the fact that said edge profile has a bent upper portion 16, 17

of which the free end edges does'not contact part 10, said upper portion is somewhat'resilient V The edge profile, which in cross-section has substantially the shape of an L, comprises a recessed portion. having an inclined wallZG. Between the wall 7 and said inclined wall zflthere is provided a strip 21.0f foam plastic,foam rubber or some other elastic material. Inthis way a satisfactory sealing of the. gap between the walll and the edge strip of elastic material well in place. I v p i As is apparent from FIG. 1. the entire lining of the. ceiling is independent of its bounding walls so thatihe lining may follow any' sagging of the ceiling or the walls. Since the fastening members 9,10 are connected to the carrier profile .8 -is ensured, whilst the. inclined wall 20 keeps the a member 1 which usually has the shape of U-section beams, no adjustment'of the height of the'edge profiles in rela- 7 tion to the ceiling lining is required. v

In case the Width of the surface to be linedis not e qual to a multiple of the width of the lining, a strip may be cut from one or both panels adjacent to the walls..

In order to be able to manufacture the fastening members 9, .10 from thin sheetmetal one may provide said fastening members with. reinforcing ribs 22, 23. v g It is obvious that the inventionis not restricted to the embodiment described above and shownin the drawings but that this may be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is still to be .noted that by applying; the abovedescribed. edge profile arrangement one obtains the advantage that the apertures in the various carrier members in which the fastening means for the panels are to be inserted 7 may be arranged in a simple way into a straight-line, since the fastening members for the edge profiles may be portion of said fastening rnember said vertical leg portion and one of the ends of saidfspring being pivotally secured to the horizontal leg portion of the fastening memher, the otherend of said spring pointing downwards and biased towards the'vertical planar face of the vertical leg portion of the fastening member, one of the leg portions of the supportflstrip being horizontal and'adapted to support the rimportion of at least one panel, the other leg 7 portion of said support strip being 'vertical and pointing upwards and being. clamped between the spring and the 'vertcial leg portion of the fastening member. I

2. For use in a wall, ceiling.v or covering construction comprisingpanel-s carried by carriermembers a securing arrangement according to claim 1', wherein the upper portion of said vertical leg portion ofith'e support strip is bent to form a substantiallychannel-shaped portionwhich fits between the 'springfand .the 'verticalleg portion of the fastening *member. 3 3 1 J 3; For use in'a wall ceiling or covering construction comprising. panels carried by carrier members a securing arrangement accordingto claim .1', wherein the vertical leg portion of the support strip is provided at its side opposite to its horizontal leg portion with a groove to accommodate a resilient strip;

4. For use in a Wall, ceiling or covering construction,

' comprising panels carried by carrier members a securing 

1. FOR USE IN A WALL, CEILING OR COVERING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING PANELS CARRIED BY CARRIER MEMBERS, A SECURING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED FASTENING MEMBER AND AN ELONGATED SUPPORT STRIP WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION, SAID FASTENING MEMBER HAVING A HORIZONTAL LEG PORTION AND A VERTICAL LEG PORTION POINTING DOWNWARDS, A CURVED SPRING EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE VERTICAL PLANAR FACE OF THE VERTICAL LEG PORTION OF SAID FASTENING MEMBER, SAID VERTICAL LEG PORTION AND ONE OF THE ENDS OF SAID SPRING BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE HORIZONTAL LEG PORTION OF THE FASTENING MEMBER, THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRING POINTING DOWNWARDS AND BIASED TOWARDS THE VERTICAL PLANAR FACE OF THE VERTICAL LEG PORTION OF THE FASTENING MEMBER, ONE OF THE LEG PORTIONS OF THE SUPPORT STRIP BEING HORIZONTAL AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE RIM PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE PANEL, THE OTHER LEG PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT STRIP BEING VERTICAL AND POINTING UPWARDS AND BEING CLAMPED BETWEEN THE SPRING AND THE VERTICAL LEG PORTION OF THE FASTENING MEMBER. 